CHAPTER XXV 



CARE AND BREEDING OF TROUT 



"The water, more productive than the earth, Nature's store- 

 house, in which she locks up her wonders, is the eldest daughter 

 of the creation, the element upon which the spirit of God did first 

 move." IZAAK WALTON. 



Transporting Trout. To bring your fish home, 

 first clean them carefully, taking pains to remove that 

 little dark blood streak along the backbone. Then, 

 after wiping them dry, pack them in ferns, separately, 

 and free from ice. Never send your fish home by 

 express; take them with you. A box cannot be 

 checked on the train. Use an old packing trunk. In 

 this you can also transport your heavy outfit wading 

 boots, oilskins, landing-net, etc. 



Trout in Captivity. Trout in artificial ponds 

 should be fed three or four times a week in the winter 

 time during the very warmest part of the day. 

 There is no natural food in artificial ponds, and feed- 

 ing is necessary in order to keep the big fish from 

 eating their small companions. In natural trout 

 ponds fed by springs so much care need not be exer- 

 cised in winter. Air holes need not be cut in any ice 

 that may form, as the springs affprd a proper tempera- 

 ture, 1 and but little food, if any, need be given the 

 fish. 



